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THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ─── ❛ alliances

SKIN AND BONES ₊˚.༄𖥸 ──
𑁍₊𓄹 -- ❪ the last kingdom ❫. 𓄹
╭ ‧₊˚⊹ 你好，欢迎光临
╰ ✦ a royal wedding╭ ᘒ ✦

Valeria was always an early bird.

She happened to love mornings. Even if she happened to make up with a headache and in a random bed.

Valeria ran her hands over her face, her eyes still closed as the sun practically shined through the window.

A sigh left her lips as she looked around the small room, remembering the events of last night. And surprisingly, Valeria did not regret it.

Valeria sat up, keeping the furs around her bare body as she ran a hand through her messy hair.

With pursed lips, Valeria looked over her shoulder at the sleeping Irishman. A small smile made its way onto her face as she looked at his relaxed expression.

She still held the furs around her as she turned to the side, leaning down to press a kiss to the scar across his forehead.

Valeria was use to drunken hook ups, when nobody knew whom she was and she'd never see them ever again. That is what she had always wanted.

But, when she stared down at the sleeping Irishman, her brows pinched together. Why was this any different?

Valeria shook the thoughts from her head as she let out a sigh, quietly dropping the furs from around her body as she reached down for her clothes.

Once she had quickly, but quietly, put all her clothes back on, she reached for her cloak, putting it on and pulling the hood over her head.

Glancing over to Finan once more, she made her way towards the door and quietly opened it.

She knew her brother's wedding was today, and she had to get ready for the occasion. Valeria was glad she woke up early.

Valeria kept her hood over her head as she walked out of the inn and through the streets of Winchester.

Barely anyone was walking the streets, all probably fast asleep. She clung onto the cloak around her as she made her way towards the palace.

Valeria was relieved when she saw Aldhelm outside, probably searching for her, she assumed.

Pulling her hood down, Valeria made her way towards her friend with pursed lips, her hands clasped at her front. "Lovely morning, is it not?" Valeria jested, making Aldhelm turn with a raised brow. "Lovely for a morning stroll..." She added, watching as Aldhelm looked at her with a knowing look. "You caught me." She let out a defeated sigh, holding her hands up in mock surrender.

"Your brother is looking for you." Aldhelm said as the pair walked towards the palace, Aldhelm nodding at the guards as they did so. "I told him you decided to venture to the lake."

Valeria slowly nodded her head, a grateful expression on her face. "And did he happen to believe it?" She raised her brow, smiling at the priests that walked past.

"That he did." Aldhelm told her, making her him with a grin. "I cannot always cover for you, Val."

Valeria sighed at that, nodding her head with a smile. "That I know." She pointed to him, her smile returning to a grin. "But, I only went to an alehouse. Celebrating my brother's marriage."

"Oh, and did you happen to sleep in the alehouse?" Aldhelm mocked, walking through the halls of the palace.

Valeria rolled her eyes at his words, slowly shaking her head. And Aldhelm chuckled at that with a knowing look. "I will pray before the wedding." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, your brother wanted you to join us this morn." Aldhelm said, making Valeria drown as she stopped in her tracks with a raised brow. "So you must get ready, lady."

Valeria groaned, reluctantly nodding her head as she ran a hand over the side of her face. "Understood."

Holding onto her horses reigns, Valeria sat on top of her horse, looking around at the beautiful scenery.

"You were not in your room this morning, sister." Valeria turned her head at the sound of Æthelred's voice, watching as he rode his horse next to hers.

Valeria simply smiled at her brother. "Did Aldhelm not tell you?" She nodded towards the man behind them. "I decided to go to the lake." She lied.

But Æthelred simply hummed, nodding his head as he pushed no further, believing her words to be true.

Valeria let out a quiet sigh, turning her head back around as she watched the Mercian men around them.

The group continued to ride back towards Winchester, moving out of the woods and onto land.

Æthelred moved to ride ahead, Valeria sleeping down her horse to ride beside Aldhelm once more.

Their peaceful ride had been cut short as they ran into two people, a man and a woman. Valeria clicked her tongue as she stopped her horse, watching as the Mercian men surrounded the two.

Valeria's brows pinched together as she turned to Aldhelm with a confused look. "Uhtred of Bebbanburg." Æthelred called down to the man, making Valeria turn her attention back to the two.

Valeria had heard all the stories of Uhtred Ragnarson. A Saxon born turned Dane. And now, he happened to fight for Alfred. A Saxon king. "Word has been that you were missing." Æthelred continued.

"Æthelred, I see you managed to move your head from the king's arse." Uhtred mocked, arms crossed over his chest as he stood in front of the woman.

Valeria watched the scene with pursed lips, sending glances to Aldhelm. "Well, for the moment." Æthelred jested. "He's sleeping." The Mercian men laughed at that. "The king has questions about your loyalty."

"It's his way." Uhtred hummed, keeping his attention on Æthelred, whom sat proudly on his horse.

"And he tells me that you've been associating with those heathen Danes." Æthelred continued to mock, making Valeria turn to her brother with a frown. "Like this one here." He nodded to the woman beside him.

"Æthelred." Valeria quietly warned, shaking her head. He did not need to cause a fight. And by the look on Uhtred's face, he wasn't best pleased with Æthelred's words.

"Uhtred, we are needed elsewhere." The woman told Uhtred, a firm expression on her face as she glared up at Æthelred.

"Is he required between your legs, my dear?"

Valeria raised her brows at Æthelred's words, turning to him with wide eyes. Was he trying to start a fight?

And Valeria's point was proven as Uhtred moved forwards, unsheathing his dagger as he grabbed Æthelred from his horse, roughly pulling him down and placing his dagger against his sword.

Valeria moved her hand to the hilt of her sword, one that was sheathed at her side. She turned to Aldhelm with wide eyes, but he held up his hand to her and the Mercian men.

"You wouldn't dare." Æthelred continued to mock, making Valeria bite down on her tongue, begging for her brother to shut up.

Uhtred raised a brow at his words, tilting his head to the side. "What? Take your nose?" He jested, keeping his dagger against Æthelred's neck. "I think I might."

Valeria watched as Aldhelm climbed off of his horse, and she went to do the same. But, Aldhelm sent her a pointed look, making her release a quiet sigh as she remained on her horse.

"Uhtred, we are needed." The woman continued to speak to the man, trying to de-escalate the situation at hand.

"Lord Uhtred, you will let Lord Æthelred go." Aldhelm instructed, stepping towards the two with a firm look. "Please." He then added, watching as Uhtred glared at Æthelred. He then turned around to the woman beside Uhtred. "Lady, on behalf of my Lord, I apologise."

"He does not." Æthelred hissed, shaking his head.

Valeria sighed as she looked towards the woman with an apologetic look. "Lord Aldhelm and I both apologise, Lady." The woman sent her a thankful nod at that. "We want no bloodshed here, Lord." Valeria turned her attention to Uhtred, an insisting look on her face. She did not want any harm done to her brother.

Uhtred looked towards Valeria, whom still remained on her horse, evidently not knowing whom she was. Valeria kept her head high, her eyes on the blade against Æthelred's neck. "What men say is true." Uhtred turned his attention back to Æthelred. "You behave as if you were still at your mother's tit."

And with that, Uhtred let go of Æthelred, slightly pushing him backward. A relieved sigh left Valeria's lips as she stared at her brother. "You will learn respect one day, I'm sure." Æthelred glared at Uhtred, stepping forwards.

"Lord, it is over, is it not?" Aldhelm spoke up once more, his eyes flicking between Uhtred and Æthelred.

"It is." The woman firmly stated, moving toward Uhtred and grabbing into his arm.

Valeria watched as the two moved away from them, keeping close. She pursed her lips as she turned her attention to her brother. "I have the King's trust!" Æthelred shouted towards the retreating Uhtred. "That is a warning!"

"Brother, it is done." Valeria sighed, pushing her hair behind her ear as Æthelred turned to her. "No need for anymore...disagreements." She pointed to the scene that had unfolded. "Yes?"

Æthelred clenched his jaw as he looked at the retreating pair. He knew his sister had a point, but he did not like it.

One Valeria had returned to the palace, she had gotten ready for her brother's wedding. She then asked lady Ælswith if she would be able to help Æthelflæd get ready.

And surprisingly, Lady Ælswith agreed.

Valeria sat behind Æthelflæd, gently brushing the princess's hair with a soft smile. "I am nervous." Æthelflæd suddenly said, making Valeria pause her movements.

But, Valeria softly chuckled, slowly nodding her head as she continued to brush the brunettes hair. "That is to be expected, princess." She shrugged her shoulders. "T'is a big day."

Æthelflæd softly smiled as she looked through the mirror. "But I am also excited." She added as Valeria placed down the brush, moving to braid small plaits into her hair. "He is your brother, yes?" Valeria hummed at that. "And you know everything about him."

"My brother has treated me with the upmost respect." Valeria softly spoke, watching as Æthelred's smile grow. "I am sure he will treat you even better."

Æthelflæd nodded her head at that, the two soon falling into a comforting silence. Valeria quickly finished her braids, moving to place a flower crown on Æthelflæd's hair.

Valeria moved to stand in front of the princess, pulling her hair to the front with a smile. "You are beautiful, lady." Æthelflæd lowered her head with a smile at that. "My brother is certainly a lucky man."

"You flatter me, lady." Æthelflæd smile never dropped as she stared at Valeria. And nor did Valeria's smile drop.

Valeria reached down to hold onto Æthelflæd's hands. "Soon, we will be sisters." Æthelflæd grinned at that, nodding her head. "And you can tell me anything when needed."

"I would very much like that, Valeria."

Valeria fidgeted with the ends of her hair, standing beside Aldhelm as they looked over at Æthelred. Everyone stood in the church, eagerly awaiting for the union of Æthelred and Æthelflæd.

Valeria wore a gold-ish, yellow dress, repeating Merica's colours, as did her brother and Aldhelm.

When Æthelred's eyes landed on his sister, Valeria sent him an encouraging smile, slowly nodding her head.

She continued to fidget with the ends of her hair, looking around at the people in the church.

Little to her acknowledgment, a particular Irishman stood in the crowd with his Lord Uhtred. "I do enjoy another wedding." Æthelwold quietly spoke, turning his gaze to Uhtred. "A royal wedding in particular." He continued. "It is a tonic for the soul. The excitement, the expense—"

"Æthelwold, I am still undecided, so do not mention talking corpses." Uhtred exhaled, fed up with Æthelwold already.

Æthelwold lowered his head at that, but didn't decided to shut up. "Nobles have traveled across the sea from as far as Frankia." He continued. "Soley to see the beautiful Æthelflæd marry this pretty bread-putting of a boy."

"A fair description." Finan spoke from behind, arms clasped in front of him as he looked around the church.

"Furthermore, he gets to hump the king's daughter all night long." Æthelwold continued to mock, looking over his shoulder at the Irishman.

"Æthelwold, you will be quiet." Gisela sharply uttered, glaring at the man beside Uhtred.

Æthelwold simply shrugged his shoulders, a smug look on his face as he turned around. "It is the truth."

"You will be quiet." Finan repeated, sick of Æthelwold's voice and words.

"Or you will do what, Irishman?" Æthelwold rolled his eyes, looking over his shoulder at the man.

"Kill you in y'ur sleep." Finan simply said, turning to Æthelwold, whom flashed him a sarcastic grin.

Æthelwold soon turned around, looking towards the front. Uhtred did the same, watching as Aldhelm subtly wafted Valeria's hands from her hair. Uhtred still did not know whom the woman was.

So, he turned to Æthelwold. "Whom is the woman?" He uttered, making Æthelwold frown as he turned to Uhtred, then towards Valeria.

Æthelwold simply grinned, keeping his eyes on Valeria, whom was showing subtle, but sarcastic glares at Aldhelm. "Ah. Æthelred's bastard sister, Valeria of Mercia." He simply said, grin still on his lips. Uhtred raised his brow in interest, not knowing Æthelred had a sister, a bastard born at that. "A hidden child until her brother ruled Mercia. She has quite a beauty, does she not?"

Nobody had seemed to notice the sudden change in the Irishman, except for Sihtric, whom turned to the man with pinched brows.

There was no time for any questions as knocks could be heard on the main doors. Valeria dropped her glare as she turned to the doors, looking away from Aldhelm as her eyes landed on Æthelflæd.

"She is truly beautiful." Valeria uttered to Aldhelm, watching as Æthelflæd walked towards the front with a joyous smile.

Æthelflæd made her way towards the front, standing beside Æthelred with a nervous smile as they stood in front of Father Beocca.

— madeleines notes.

A shorter chapter yes. But I gotta feed you guys this fic bc the ideas are FLOWING!!

Idec Aldhelm and Valeria are the BROTP OF THE FIC! Like that man is so underrated, I actually adore him.

And I didn't get to make a friendship with him and Athena in my other Finan fic so, I HOPE THIS MAKES UP FOR IT!!

Now this is gonna be a very drama, tension fic. Won't be all easy like my other Finan fic 🙌🥺

VALERIA AND FINAN WILL HAVE LAYERS.

Like he will definitely fall first, but Valeria is hesitant, bc he follows Uhtred and Uhtred is Æthelred's enemy so... YEAH THIS IS GONNA SUM IT UP!

DONT forget to comment, I love reading yalls comments, MAKES MY DAY.

Have a good day or night ladies and germs! <3

14th October 2024
2518 words